Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children
07:27

How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children

Published on: August 19, 2020

[Ethics in neonatal intensive care]

Jozef Macko1

  • 1Macko J. Novorozenecké oddĕlení, Krajská nemocnice T. Bati, a.s., Zlín.

Ceska Gynekologie
|October 8, 2010
PubMed

Insights

This study addresses ethical dilemmas in neonatology, focusing on decisions for critically ill newborns and those born at the limit of viability. It emphasizes parental involvement and presents findings from a European study on neonatal ethical challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Neonatal Care
  • Bioethics

Context:

  • Neonatology presents complex ethical challenges regarding treatment decisions for vulnerable infants.
  • The limit of viability and potential for severe long-term damage complicate end-of-life and intensive care choices.
  • Parental involvement is crucial in ethical decision-making processes for neonatal care.

Purpose:

  • To summarize current ethical thinking and decision-making frameworks in neonatology.
  • To outline primary ethical questions concerning resuscitative and intensive care.
  • To discuss the role of parents and provide communication guidelines in neonatal ethical dilemmas.

Summary:

  • The work reviews ethical issues in neonatal care, including decisions for premature infants and those with poor prognoses.
  • It highlights the importance of parental participation and offers recommendations for communication.
  • Findings from the EURONIC study on ethical dilemmas across eight European countries are briefly presented, alongside a categorization of newborns and the situation in the Czech Republic.

Impact:

  • Provides a framework for navigating complex ethical decisions in neonatal intensive care units.
  • Enhances understanding of parental rights and roles in end-of-life care discussions for newborns.
  • Contributes to policy and practice development in neonatal bioethics, informed by European research.

More Related Videos

A Detailed Protocol for Physiological Parameters Acquisition and Analysis in Neurosurgical Critical Patients05:01

A Detailed Protocol for Physiological Parameters Acquisition and Analysis in Neurosurgical Critical Patients

Published on: October 17, 2017

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Nursing Ethical Principles II01:27

Nursing Ethical Principles II

Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's cancer...
Nursing Ethical Principles I01:22

Nursing Ethical Principles I

Ethical principles serve as the moral compass in the longstanding tradition of nursing, guiding healthcare professionals in their interactions with patients and families. These principles, namely autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, provide a robust framework for navigating the ethical complexities of daily nursing practice.
Autonomy
Autonomy underscores the significance of a patient's self-determination and freedom from external control. In healthcare, respecting the...
Ethical Dilemmas I01:17

Ethical Dilemmas I

Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
Ethical Issues01:27

Ethical Issues

Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Nursing Code of Ethics01:29

Nursing Code of Ethics

The Nursing Code of Ethics sets the ethical benchmark for the profession, and guides nurses in ethical analysis and decision making at the societal, organizational, and clinical levels. The code encompasses showing compassion and respect for the patient, their families, and communities in all circumstances while committing to providing patient-centered care. In addition, the code states that nurses must advocate for the patient by defending a cause or recommendation to protect their rights,...
Ethical Standards I01:25

Ethical Standards I

The American Nurses Association (ANA) created and implemented the first nationally accepted Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. The Code of Ethics is a living document regularly updated by the ANA and establishes an ethical standard that is non-negotiable for nurses in all roles and settings.
The Code of Ethics provisions outline the nurse's duty to the patient, the healthcare team, the profession, and society. The Code's fundamental principles include advocacy,...